Magnetic belt and trainer



Feb. 16, 1965 A. F. KAlN MAGNETIC BELT AND TRAINER Filed Feb. 28, 1962 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 0 3,169,632 MAGNETIC BELT AND TRAINER Arthur F. Kain, Mulberry, Fla.

Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,336 2 Claims. (Q1. 198-493) This application is a companion application to my prior application Serial No. 174,145, filed February 19, 1962 entitled Training Method and Means, which relates to the use of magnetically responsive means, particularly adapted for maintaining-a predetermined path of travel for conveyor belts. This present application partakes of the objects, features and advantages of said prior application which is included herein and forms a part hereof by reference.

In my prior application there was disclosed the concept of securing magnetic responsive means to conveyor belts for reaction to fixed magnets in the preferred path of travel of a belt in such manner; as to maintain the path of travel of the belt in the path defined by the fixedrnagnets. Two forms of magnetic means are therein disclosed; in one, a thin flat flexible strip or band of ferrous material, such as steel or black iron, is inserted between the plies of a belt, and in the other form there was suggested the insertion of particulate ferrous material, such as iron filings or the like, to respond in a similar manner for restraining the belt to follow a path of travel as defined by the fixed magnets. Both of these forms of the invention are effective and efiicient, experimental use having established the commercially practical aspects of the basic concept.

It has been found, however, that the use of stranded flexible magnetic responsive means, such as twisted cable or fiat woven magnetically responsive cable, may be preferable in that in response to abrupt lateral changes of direction of the belt in following the course defined by the magnets, a continuous solid band of ferrous material may buckle. Particulate matter, such as iron filings, may appropriately respond to the fixed magnets to train the belt. However, there appears to be an inherent danger in the useof such particulate matter which in the course of belt flexing might work itself into or through the plies of the belt to deteriorate the belt internally. In this connection it is to be noted that not only in the use may the belt be flexed laterally, but of even greater significance is rough handling of the belt by the manufacturer and in shipment, as well as upon installation. As a further aid in permitting lateral distortion of the belt from the normal, it is here suggested that the runs of the twisted or woven wire cables be discontinuous so that separate flights of cable may effectively provide the desired magnetic field without imposing limitations on the normal physical characteristics of the belt.

It is thus a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved magnetically responsive belt in which the magnetic means are fully flexible to accommodate lateral deviations of the belt as well as flexure in its longitudinal plane. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic belt in which the magnetically responsive means is constituted by a flexible cable, either as one or more strands of twisted wire or a flat cable formed of woven wire. In one preferrred form of the invention here illustrated, a plurality of parallel twisted wire cables are provided lying in side by side contact transversely central of the belt. Another object is to provide flexible magnetic means comprising longitudinally extending interrupted flights per mitting normal stretch of the belt and precluding permanent deformation of such means by lateral twist of the belt. Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention may be apparent from considera- 3,15%,532 Patented Feb. 16, 1965 ice wovencarcass type with which the flexible magnetically" responsive means is incorporated and illustrating an i adjustable mounting for the magnetic flux producing magnets, and 7 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a flat flexible woven wire magnetically responsive means associated with the belt for conveying magnetic flux.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the flexible belt itself is generallyindicated by the numeral 10. The belthere shown is illustrated as including upper and lower relatively thin plies of fabric indicated by the numerals 11 and 12 respectively and a central thicker ply 13. All of the plies are united by vulcanizing thereon and therethrough friction rubber to form a relatively thick outer material carrying layer 14, intermediate layers 15 and 16 and a lower thinner internal face 17. It will, of course, be understood that while the type of belt here illustrated is admirably suited for the insertion therein of magnetically responsive means in the manner hereinafter described, the invention is by no means limited to the particular type of belt, the number of fabric plies, the relative thickness of the friction rubber and such other characteristics as here disclosed. The invention as herein set forth, is of course, amenable to various diverse structures of belting and methods and means of incorporating a flexible magnetic responsive means therein. 7

In that form of the invention shown .in FIGURE 1, the flux conducting magnetically responsive means is in the form of a plurality of parallel cables 18. The individual cables 18 here shown are each composed of a plurality of thin wires twisted in typical cable forming fashion. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, which is contemplated for commercial adaptation, eighteen cables of such plural strands may provide a transverse width of approximately one inch in the center of the belt. The cables 18 are here shown as located in the plane of the central thicker ply which has been centrally and longitudinally cut away to receive the cables as here indicated. The cables 18 are integrally engaged in the plane of the central ply through the vulcanization of the friction rubber throughout the belt. In order to avoid excess strain on the cables or mutilation of the belt carcass by undue twisting of the cables in response to lateral adjustment of the belt by magnetic force, the cables are formed as independent sets of parallel cables preferably in the nature of approximately three feet in length and spaced from a preceding or succeeding group of cables of like nature and length by a slight gap 19, as for instance in the nature of one inch. Such spacing of the individual cable groups also precludes any limitation of normal belt stretch and admits of cable expansion or contraction under temperature changes independently of the belt itself. As illustrated in FIGURE 1 there is disposed beneath the belt 10, magnets 26, preferably of a permanent bar type.

In that form of the invention shown inFIGURE 2, the belt is generally indicated by the numeral 30 and in this case a belt of the woven carcass type is provided. The fabric of the carcass is indicated by the numeral 31 while the friction rubber bonded to and through the carcass, as by vulcanization, is indicated by the numeral 32. Since this type of belt is not amenable to the disruption of the carcass for the insertion of magnetically responsive means, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1, the cables may be placed against the under face of the friction rubber 32 and adhered thereto and secured in position by vulcanization of an extended portion of friction rubber covering 33 over the cables 34 to form an integral structure.

Ln FIGUREZ the magnet 35 is shown as mounted in the trough of a U-shaped rail 36, the arrangement being such as to provide both vertical and transverse adjustment of the magnet with respect to the under face of the belt. Through the vertical sides of the rail 36 horizontal transverse adjusting screws 37 are provided for laterally shifting the magnet 35 While vertical adjusting screws 38 provide for determining the vertical location of the magnet. I

As indicated in FIGURE 3 the flux conducting magnetically responsive means for thebeit may be in the form of a flux conveying flexible cable 40 formed of interwoven thin ferrous wires 41. As with the cables-18 the flat cable 40 is freely flexible longitudinally with the belt and may be diverted transversely with the belt without buckle or dmage to the belt structure per se. Such fiat cables may, however, have the added ability of longitudinal stretch and thus may not require the spacing of individual cable groups as indicated at 19 in FIGURE 2. However, it is to be noted that the round twisted cables 18 of FIGURES 1 and 2 are not without a limited amount of longitudinal stretch.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a magnetically responsive flux transmitting means which is transversely as well as longitudinally flexible without permanent distortion. With respect to both round cables and fiat cables, they may readily be incorporated in multiple ply belt as in FIGURE 1 or in woven carcass forms indicated in FIGURE 2. In both in- 1 stances some longitudinal stretch is permitted although such stretch is more pronouncedin the flat woven cable of the form shown in FIGURE 3. Theinvention is not limited to the magnetically responsive means above but contemplates the combination of such means with many and various types of belts such as shown with the ply belt of FIGURE 1 or the woven carcass belt of FIGURE 2. Further, the inventionembraces the combination of such magnetic means in such belts with fixed magnets and is also concerned with the adjustable mounting of the magnets as for instance in the manner shown in FIGURE 2. It will, of course be understood that in the practice of the invention many changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, as outlined in the appended claims. 7

What I claim is:

1. A conveyor belt of substantial width formed of an overlying, relatively thin ply of fabric and an underlying, relatively thin ply of fabric, an intermediate fabric ply which is thicker than each of the individual overlying and underlying plies, said intermediate fabric plyhaving a central cut-away portion to provide a single, narrow, longitudinal recess in such intermediate fabric ply, a narrow group of longitudinally disposed, side-by-side related, twisted wire cables of magnetically responsive'material received into and filling such cut-away portion and servingto guide the belt when such belt is operated with an adjacent, centrally disposed magnet means fixed independently of the belt, said plies and side-by-side related wire cables being united by a body of friction rubber vulcanized thereon and therethrough to .form in effect an integral belt struc-' ture.

2. An elongated conveyor belt of substantial width containing a woven carcass section, said carcass section having friction rubber bonded to and through the carcass by vulcanization to provide an overlying, burden-carrying portion, said woven carcass being completely enclosed by the friction rubber, a narrow, longitudinally placed strip of magnetically responsive material in the form of twisted wire cables placed in flat, side-by-side relation. and disposed as a'group centrally of the belt on the underside of the overlying, woven carcass portion, and an underlying belt portion of friction rubber on the undersurface of the first belt portion and bonded to and through the group of twisted wire cables as well as bonded to the undersurface of the first belt portion by vulcanization to form in elfect an integral belt structure, said strip of magnetically responsive material serving as means for guiding the belt when such belt is operated with an adjacent, centrally disposed magnet means fixed independently of the belt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,867 8/06 Hohl et al 74239 2,114,517 4/38 Apel et al 74-237 2,330,923 10/43 Robins l98202 2,575,813 11/51 Hutchins.

2,593,284 4/52 Ewell 74-232 2,655,195 10/53 Curtis 74-232 2,783,871 3/57 1 Sowards 198202 DON A. WAITE, Primary Examiner.

EARL M. 'BERGERT, Examiner, 

1. A CONVEYOR BELT OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH FORMED OF AN OVERLYING, RELATIVELY THIN PLY OF FABRIC AND AN UNDERLYING, RELATIVELY THIN PLY OF FABRIC, AN INTERMEDIATE FABRIC PLY WHICH IS THICKER THAN EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL OVERLYING AND UNDERLYING PLIES, SAID INTERMEDIATE FABRIC PLY HAVING A CENTRAL CUT-AWAY PORTION TO PROVIDE A SINGLE, NARROW, LONGITUDINAL RECESS IN SUCH INTERMEDIATE FABRIC PLY, A NARROW GROUP OF LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED, SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATED, TWISTED WIRE CABLES OF MAGNETICALLY RESPONSIVE MATERIAL RECEIVED INTO AND FILLING SUCH CUT-AWAY PORTION AND SERVING TO GUIDE THE BELT WHEN SUCH BELT IS OPERATED WITH AN ADJACENT, CENTRALLY DISPOSED MAGNET MEANS FIXED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE BELT, SAID PLIES AND SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATED WIRE CABLES BEING UNITED BY A BODY OF FRICTION RUBBER VULCANIZED THEREON AND THERETHROUGH TO FORM IN EFFECT AN INTEGRAL BELT STRUCTURE. 